Nursing unit



Sept. 7, 1948. M, ALLEN 2,448,569

NURS ING UNIT Filed March 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MAME? Sept. 7, 1948. ALLEN 2,448,569

NURSING UNI T Filed March 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j i? J Patented Sept. 7, 1948' NURSING UNIT Adda M. Allen, Arlington, Va., assignor to Dilposable Bottle Corporation, Washington, D. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application March 14, 1944, Serial No. 526,354

3 Claims.

This invention relates to nursing units, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eflicient nursing unit, one element of which comprises a replaceable throw-away, transparent or semi-transparent, semi-rigid container, which may be compressed by the fingers of an operator to stimulate the flow of the liquid out from the container and through the nipple which nipple also forms a part of the nursing unit and which compression will prevent the collapse of the nipple while an infant is nursing.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient nursing unit comprising a replaceable throw-away contentvisible, semi-rigid container, having a rigid shape-retaining and container-attaching neck, to which neck is secured a flexible nursing nipple of a conventional type, to provide a sanitary compact and easily assembled nursing unit, the container of which may be thrown away after each feeding and replaced by a new sanitary replaceable container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the nursing unit gripped by the hand of an operator;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the nursing unit, a portion of the shaperetaining neck being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the body portion of the neck;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the clamping ring of the neck;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modified form of the container and neckattaching means;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 5, with the parts shown separated;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the nursing unit, illustrating a heating blanket attached to the container, the nipple being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a further modified form of the container and neck-attaching means.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that ill designates the steril content-visible. semi-rigid throw-away or disposable container preferably formed of relatively heavy Cellophane or like material or treated paper, or similar substance, having a glycerine base or other base, and sufliciently sturdy to retain its shape while at the same time permitting the container to be compressed by squeezing the fingers together in the manner shown in Figure 1. This action will stimulate the flow of liquid from the container 10, and at the same time prevent the collapse of the nipple I I which is attached to the rigid shaperetainin-g neck It. The container I0 is preferably provided with a suitable scale It to facilitate the measurement of the amount of fluid within the container It. This container I0 is preferably transparent or semi-transparent to provide a content-visible container, so that the amount of the content remaining in the container or consumed by the infant may be easily determined at any time. Since the contents of the container are visible, the person tending the infant, by observing bubbles arising from the base of the nipple, will determine whether or not the contents are being consumed. This container l0 may be of any shape or size. but it is referably of the wide-mouth type which is slightly larger than the bottom or base. This will facilitate nesting as the containers are packed for the trade.

The rigid shape-retaining neck 12 is preferably formed of rigid transparent or semi-transparent plastic 01' any suitable type and this neck I! pref-- erably tapers toward its outer end and terminates in a nipple-retaining bead or flange l5 over which the flexible nipple H, of any suitable type, may be fitted. The neck 12 is provided with a depending skirt It at its lower end opposite the bead l5, as shown in Figure 1. An annular flange I1 is formed upon the neck l2 near its lower end and terminates in a depending collar 08, a portion of the inner face of which is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded clamping ring l9. This clamping ring I9 is provided with a laterally extending annular knurled flange 20 which extends flush with the outer face of the depending collar I8 and facilitates the threading of the ring I9 within the neck l2. The outer face of the depending collar I8 is preferably knurled adjacent the lower edge thereof, as shown The neck I! is provided with a pocket 2|, in which the retaining flange l4 fits and is clamped in position by the ring H, as shown in Figure 2. The under face of the pocket 2| and the upper face of the ring l9 are provided with a complementary rib and channel or tongue and groove bead structure to firmly grip the flange l4 and to lock and seal the joint between the neck I2, the ring 19, and the container Hi. It should be noted that the 3 skirt l6 flts against the inner face of the container l and into the open mouth of the container. The open end of the container is clamped between the skirt l8 and the ring [9, and the flange I4 is clamped between the neck l2 and the rm I9.

is shown in Figure 5, a rubber or other resilient sealing washer or gasket 22 may be placed between the neck l2- and the flange H of the container l0. A clamping ring I9 firmly clamps the flange H against the washer or gasket 22. As shown in Figure 6, the neck I! may be provided with a sealing rib or tongue 23 and the flange N of the container Hi may be provided with a channel or groove 24 to receive the rib 23. A rib 25 may be formed upon the under face of the flange M to fit into a channel 26 formed in the upper face of the clamping ring la It should be understood that the rib 25 and channel 24 may be pre-formed in the flange I, as shown in Figure 6, or may be formed in the flange ll only when the ring it is threaded into clamping engagement with the flange id, as shown in Figure 2, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As shown in Figure 9, the neck |2 may be provided with a pocket for receiving the flange I4 of the container 1, which pocket is provided with an inclined inner face 26. The ring l9 i provided with a companion inclined face 21. The ring 19 is threaded into the neck H and is adapted to force the flange l l inwardly of the inclined faces and into a tightly clamped and sealing position. This will tend to crowd the semi-rigid material from which the container is constructed up into the corner 28 and prevent leakage of liquid from the container Hl out from between the neck l2 and ring l9.

In Figures 7 and 8, I have illustrated an electrically heated bottle warmer 29, preferably of a flexible blanket type, in which the container I 0 may be mounted. The warmer 28 is preferably provided with a view opening 30 formed by the spaced side edges of the warmer. which is so located as to permit an operator to view the scale l3. The warmer 29 is preferably held tightly around the container Ill by means of the lacing cord 3!, which spans the opening 30 and interlaces with suitable hooks or other means 32. Any suitable type of warmer may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that a very simple and efficient nursing unit has been produced comprising a semi-rigid and compressible content-visible receptacle, a rigid shape-retaining neck which is attached to the receptacle or container l0, and a flexible nursing nipple of any suitable type or design which is attached to the neck. The neck is preferably formed of rigid transparent material of any suitable type such as transparent plastic and this neck comprises a. retaining ring which clamps the open mouth of the semi-rigid content-visible receptacle or container in engagement with the neck so as to assist in retaining the receptacle or container in its proper shape while at the same time permitting the body of the container to be slightly compressed by the fingers of an operator to stimulate the flow of liquid or fluid through the neck and through the nipple which is attached to the neck. An efficient means has been provided for attaching the semi-rigid replaceable container or receptacle in engagement with the neck and to seal 4 the Junction of the container and the neck so as to prevent accidental flow of liquid through said joint. Furthermore, an eflicient heating means may be used in conjunction with the unit to maintain the nursing formula at a proper or desired temperature, and this heating means is so formed as to be readily removable and to permit the content of the receptacle or container to be viewed at all times.

It should be understood that certain details in the construction of the nursing unit may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A nursing unit comprising a reusable collar and nipple, and a disposable container body made of pliant material capable of being pressed inwardly by hand to aid the nursing operation, said container having substantially straight side walls, a closed bottom and an open top end for removable attachment to said collar, said collar comprising a neck portion having a top central opening with means around said opening for the removable attachment of said nipple. said neck portion having a short depending skirt around which the material of the open top end of said container is wrapped and an annular sealing groove adjacent the upper end of said skirt into which the material of the open top end of the container is bent to be sealed therein, said neck portion having a threaded section thereon and said collar further comprising a narrow annular clamping ring of such diameter as to pass upwardly over and around said container from the closed bottom end thereof and to be disposed around the outside of the open top end of said container, leaving the body thereof exposed to be grasped by the hand and compressed as necessary during the nursing operation, said clamping ring being adjustably attached to said neck portlon by cooperating threads and having a sealing surface which is presented to the material of the open top end of said container in said groove and which presses said material into sealing engagement with said skirt when said ring is adjusted on said neck portion.

2. A nursing unit comprising a reusable collar and nipple, and a disposable container body made of pliant material capable of being pressed inwardl by hand to aid the nursing operation, said container having substantially straight side walls, a closed bottom and an open top end for removable attachment to said collar, said collar comprising a neck portion having a top central opening with means around said opening for the removable attachment of said nipple, said neck portion having a short depending skirt around which the material of the open top end of said container is wrapped and an annular sealing groove adjacent the upper end of said skirt into which the material of the open top end of the container is bent to be sealed therein, said neck portion hav-- ing a short depending outer flange spaced from said skirt with screw threads on the inner wall thereof, said collar further comprising a narrow annular clamping ring of such diameter as to pass upwardly over and around said container from the closed bottom end thereof and to be disposed around the outside of the open top end of said container leaving the body thereof exposed to be grasped by the hand and compressed as necessary during the nursing operation, said clamping ring being adapted to enter the annular space between said skirt andsaid outer flange and being adlustably attached to said neck portion by threads on its outer wall which engage the threads on said outer flange, said clamping ring having a sealing surface which is presented to the material or the open top end of said container in said groove and which presses said material into sealing engagement with said skirt when said ring is adjusted on said neck portion.

3. A nursing unit comprising a reusable collar and nipple, and a disposable container body made or pliant material capable of being pressed inwardly by hand to aid the nursing operation, said container having substantially straight side walls, a closed bottom and an open top end for removable attachment to said collar, said collar comprising a neck portion having a top central opening with means around said opening for the removable attachment of said nipple, said neck portion having a short depending skirt around which the material of the open top end oi-said container is wrapped and an annular sealing groove adiacent the upper end of said skirt into which the material of the open top end or the container is bent to'be sealed therein, said neck portion having a threaded section thereon and said collar further comprising a narrow annular clamping ring of such diameter as to pass upwardly over and around said container from the closed bottom end thereoi and to be disposed around the outside of the open top end of said container, leaving the body thereof exposed to be grasped by the hand and compressed as necessary during the nursing operation, said clamping ring being adiustably attaohed to said neck portion by cooperating threads and having a sealin surface which is presented to the material of the open top end oi said container in said groove and which presses 6 said material into sealing engagement with said skirt when said ring is adjusted on said neck portion. and an annular sealing gasket in said groove adapted to 'be compressed by said clamping ring to secure the seal of the material of the top open end "of said container in said groove.

ADDA M. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

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